The Flywheel

Next Meeting: June 22

Rebuilding Together

Rebuilding Together was, at one time, Christmas
In April. Executive Director and Berkeley Rotarian John
Stevens tells us how the community service continues under
its new moniker.

Meeting of Friday, June 15

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

Club President EJ Shalaby called the
meeting to order. After the pledge of allegiance, Herb
Cole asked for a moment of silence for peace,
justice, and freedom on earth. With Henry Kelman not
present to share a thought for the day, Sid Chauvin dug
deep and reminded everyone to buy low and sell high.

Rotarians with Guests

Jim Young introduced his wife, Linda.

Rafael Madrigal introduced his guest,
Rosa Lara, who is working with the Community Coalition
Against Beverage Taxes.

Sunshine Report

Jim Young reported that Dan
Tanita’s wife has heart arrhythmia
and is at home doing well after a recent trip to the
hospital. Dan is very appreciative of Richmond Rotary’s
good wishes.

Announcements

Josh Surowitz said to watch for an
email announcement about the next Richmond Rotary late-afternoon
Happy Hour at La Strada and also for an upcoming meeting
of the Richmond Rotary Membership Committee (which everyone’s
invited to participate in).

Plan to hear more about Bocce Ball (aka Italian Lawn
Bowling) as a team of stalwart Richmond Rotarians set
out to create havoc at an upcoming tournament in Martinez.

Recognitions

Happy and Sad Dollars

Jon Lawlis was very happy about spending
the next month with his honey at her summer home on
the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.

Erle Brown offered some happy dollars
for the good time he had at his recent 59th high school
class reunion where he actually recognized almost everyone
and they all looked great!

Rafael Madrigal had happy dollars
for pitcher Matt Cain’s recent perfect game, the
first one in all of Giants baseball history.

Herb Cole was happy to learn that
Erle graduated from high school.

Sid Chauvin was happy about this
year being the 56th anniversary of his high school alma
mater (Richmond High School) class of 1956. A reunion
is to be held soon at the Boiler House Restaurant.

Markku Pelanne, having reached the
happy milestone age of 65, reminded everyone that it
was German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck who introduced
the concept of mid-60’s retirement back in the
1800’s.

Norm's Nonsense

More Ponderism ...
- If guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns. If
marriages are outlawed only outlaws will have inlaws.

- If they do away with Fathers Day, how will the nation
get rid of a huge surplus of neckties?"

PROGRAM

"Richmond Tales, Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle",
the Play

Jim Young made a presentation about
a proposed project that he would like to undertake with
full Club support and involvement during his upcoming
year as Richmond Rotary Club President. (And the project
includes an international connection with the Singapore
Rotary Club in Asia. Read on.)

The project would involve a partnership between Richmond
Rotary and the East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
(EBCPA). The plan would be for the EBCPA to take a widely
acclaimed local book and make it into a stage play complete
with ticket sales and multiple performances in front
of large audiences in the Spring of 2013.

The youth-oriented local book is “Richmond
Tales: Lost Secrets of the Iron Triangle”,
written in 2009 by bay area author, Summer Brenner.
The book cover provides this overview: “When
Maisha [a young Black girl] and Mario [a young Latino
boy] become friends, their adventures take them on
a journey to discover the “lost secrets” of
the Iron Triangle, a district of Richmond, California.”

The book is a wholesome and uplifting tale that points
to better tomorrows where the power of friendship and
caring overturn what some say is a natural alienation—feelings
of hostility, isolation, separation, and division—associated
with inner-city life. It’s about a positive
sense of community (past, present, and future) that can
help build up instead of tear down. The author writes, “This
book is dedicated to the youth of Richmond, California—and
to youth everywhere who do not yet know: there is
a there there.”

Since the book came out three years ago, 4th and 5th
graders in the West Contra Costa Unified School District
have been reading and talking about Richmond Tales in
their regular classes.

With the Richmond Rotary Club now meeting again in its
namesake city, this project offers an opportunity to
strengthen ties with the local community in a unique
and significant way while promoting a long-standing goal
of safe, non-violent families and neighborhoods.

When Jim was in Asia, he spoke to the Singapore Rotary
Club about this project and they’re interested
to support it (including monetarily). They see the connection
to Rotary values (peace through service, etc.) and appreciate
the positive human relations and goodwill associated
with the project.

As some of our members pointed out during Friday’s
meeting, given Richmond Rotary’s ongoing dollar
outflow to worthy global projects, it only seems fitting
that some international dollars would flow into a worthy
Richmond project.

To make all this happen, there’s work to be done,
including grant-writing and other fundraising to cover
the estimated $50,000 budget, details of which are being
developed. The EBCPA has already obtained script and
other rights to produce this first of its kind Richmond
Tales play and they’ve spoken with The California
Endowment for the Arts, which has committed to a $10,000
donation with a Rotary match.

Jim emphasized that, for this project to be successful,
the Club will need to organize volunteer support for
various activities including rehearsals, ticket sales,
and publicity.

This is an interesting and worthy project indeed!

- Rotating Editor, Tom Waller

Upcoming Programs

June 29
EJ Shalaby makes the mystical transition from hard
working Rotary leader to the land of the Past Presidents.
Witness this once-a-year event in which the club leader
who signs his correspondence, “Respectfully” is
honored by all the club leaders who do not.

July 6
Dudley Thompson, Director of Oakland Rotary #3 and
enthusiastic supporter of the “New Cocktail
Movement’ will
discuss the history
of the cocktail, its ups and downs, and the technique
of mixing The Cocktail Classics.

Have a suggestion for a speaker?
Please pass along the name and contact information
to Jim Young.